The Charlotte Democrat., 1887-12-02
A Very Bad Nan.

A miserable scoundrel called "Herr
ing the past week, charged with melting
riots and trouble among the people and
advising assassination. He was convicted
on his own testimony we suppose, as there
was good deal of perjury on the part of
witnesses in his defence. We give below
a specimen of Most's own testimony to
show what villain he is and what the
principles of the anarchists are:
NEW YORK, Nov. 29-When the trial
of Johann Most was resumed this morning
his counsel, Mr. Howe, arose aud disclaim-
ed on the part of his client any connection
with or knowledge OF the threatening let.
ter sent to Judge Cowiug. Most was
then put on the witness stand to testify
in his own behalf. After stating that he
was born in Bavaria Al years ago, he de-
MED that he had threatened the execu-
toner of the anarchists in Chicago or any
one else. The meeting at Kreamers hall
at which the alleged seditious speech was
made was, he said, public one. He then
went on to give his version of the speech.
1t lacked the threats and violent language
he is charged with having uttered. son
the cry of Revenge being uttered 10 the
audience" he went on, 81 said not now
The capitalists are arrayed against us
we are here TO accuse, and accuse Grin
mel. Gary and the judges of the murder"
He was not sure that he said he would
give ten years of his life to know the hang
man, and that he would strsngle him. He
never said that, for every man killed in
Chicago five hundred would be slaughter
ed.
In cross examination, Assistant District
Attorney Nicoll questioned Most' on the
record of his past life The prisoner said
he had been convicted of treason in Aus
tria 10 1859 and had been imprisoned one
year. In 1870 he was again convicted in
that country of the same crime and got
five years. sentence, but gained his liber-
ty in 1871 through an amnesty granted
political prisoners. 10 1872 he was SEN
fenced to years imprisonment 10 Berlin
for calling the Emperor of Germany a
"slaughterer." In 1876 he was sentenced
to one year and six months imprisonment
for speech made in Berlin on memorial
of the Paris Commune. In 1877 he was
sentenced in Berlin to two months impris-
onment for blasphemy. To 1881 he was
sentenced in England to eighteen months
imprisonment for appauding the attempt
ed killing of the Gar. When he got out
of prison there he came to this country
and has since remained here.
Most went on to say that the state of
anarchy would be one without commerce,
but in which there should be communities 8
of men among whom wealth was equally
distributed. There would be scientific
schools where both sexes should be re-
duced in the same way. He believed in
force. The difficulty caused by capital
will most likely end in revolution. "Our
principle" he said, sis peaceably if we
can, forcibly if we must" He thought
that in the coming revolution explosives
will be used on both sides. Dynamite
bombs are more effective than cannon. A
long dispute arose when Most was asked
if he believed in God who punished per-
jury. Mr. Howe said the question could
not be constitutionaliy asked. The court
said that if the witness did not believe
in such a God it would be for the jury to
say if his case was affected thereby. Most
said he believed that if a man was put on
the stand without an oath be would tell
the truth as quickly as with one. He be-
lieved the Bible was of no effect on a
witness. Most finally, in answer to the
question whether he believed in a Supreme
Being who Furnishes those who give per-
jured testimony, said that be did not. He
believed, however, that he would be pun
ished mere for purjury. AS to first cause
he could only say with Socrates that "We
know nothing" Argument of counsel
followed and the case was sent to the jury
at 500 p. m.
At 10 o'clock the jury returned YER
dict of guilty.
Such fellows as Most causes injury and
ruin to many poor mechanics and labor
ers in the North, especially among the
foreign population, who do not under.
stand, or appreciate, the liberal institu.
tions of this country. Many OF our best
citizens are foreigners, and we respect
them, but such ncendiaries as Most and
all other foreign anarchists ought to be
hanged.